DUBAI, UAE - Iraqi leaders and the United Nations urged action to protect women’s rights during the National Conference on Combating Violence Against Women, held Saturday in Baghdad. The event focused on legal reforms, social protections, and support for women in the face of ongoing violence at home and in conflict zones like Gaza.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani said his government has made women’s issues a national priority. He announced that more than 500,000 women have been enrolled in Iraq’s social protection programs.

“Our government understands the value and role of women in society,” Sudani said. “We have issued clear instructions to create a safe environment where women can carry out their duties.”

“Women from all parts of Iraq have made sacrifices,” he said. “We also remember the cruel violence women in Gaza are suffering under Israeli occupation.”

President Abdul Latif Rashid said violence against women is against the values of religion, law, and human dignity. He described the killing of women in Palestine as a clear example of double standards in global human rights.

“Iraqi women now live under democracy and enjoy greater security and freedom of expression,” Rashid said. “We urge the House of Representatives to pass fair legislation that protects women and matches our constitutional values.”

Mohamed Al Hassan, the United Nations Secretary-General’s representative in Iraq, also addressed the event. He called on Iraqi leaders to empower women and protect their rights.

“If the family is the foundation of society, then the woman is its protective wall,” Hassan said. “Unfortunately, many women across Islamic communities still suffer from systematic violence and marginalization.”

Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani praised women’s resilience, saying they are central to Iraq’s future.

“Women have endured a lot, but they have never broken,” he said. “Women are not victims or a burden. They are the foundation of our society.”

Mashhadani warned that pushing women into male-dominated fields without safe environments is another form of violence. He also sent a message of solidarity to the women of Gaza, calling them symbols of strength.

Despite several claims of advancing women’s rights in the country, Iraqi women still suffer from the implications of a patriarchal society.

Honor killings and suppression of women’s voices are often witnessed in different parts of the country.

The country in February passed a set of controversial amendments to the Personal Status Law.

The amendments govern family-related issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and custody, and have long been seen as controversial by civil society activists.

The changes allow couples to choose their religious sect — Shiite or Sunni — when entering into a marriage contract. If the couple cannot agree on a sect, the husband's sect would be applied. Critics argue that this provision could undermine civil rights, particularly for women and girls.

The amendments sparked a lot of controversy, with regional and international bodies decrying the amendments for jeopardizing the rights of women and potentially legalizing child marriage.